Have a look at, for instance, the time of the Civil War, numbered Page 519. See, in 1861, the year the war began, Congress was not in session from August 7th all the way through December 1st. (It wouldn't have been in session from March 29th through December 1st had not Lincoln called an extraordinary session in the summer to deal with the war.) And see, in 1865, the year the war ended, Congress was not in session from March 12th all the way through December 3rd.

Congress not in session for months at a time. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

And... if they could have it that way during critical years of the Civil War, why can't we have it that way now?

"There are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice--the love of power and the love of money. Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but, when united in view of the same object, they have, in many minds, the most violent effects."